Rolls Royce

End of an era

2001 July: Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor Cars announced details of the last Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph model to commemorate 97 years of Rolls-Royce cars; Rolls-Royce cars have been built at Crewe for 55 years.

VW has control of the car factory and the Bentley name but, as agreed in 1998, from 2002 BMW takes over the right to manufacture and distribute cars with the Rolls-Royce name.

The Silver Seraph can therefore be said to be the last classic Rolls-Royce, although its BMW successors will surely be comfortable and luxurious, and probably a good deal more uptodate. There is a small act of defiance: "On the front lower quarter panel a small but vital distinguishing highlight is a badge, set against a British Union flag, stating simply: `Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Crewe, England.'" Production will finish at the end of 2001.

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